I’ll PM everyone sometime between now and the 2nd. Yay! Dopefest!
Dibs on eleanorigby’s jazz!
Right, we probably won’t stay much after dinner either. We have 15 people coming over to watch football the next day and she has this idea that the house needs cleaning beforehand!
Okay, it turns out I need to ask about the neighborhood we’re going to.
I commented to my roommate that we were doing this, and invited her if she wanted to go. I don’t think she will, but who knows?
However, when I mentioned that I had been told there was an El stop very close, she grimaced and indicated that it was not the wisest idea to be waiting to catch a train late at night in this neighborhood.
I’m crawling the walls wanting to meet people, but I don’t want her to feel like she has to come so she can drive me and make sure I’m safe. This means I need to know what the area is like so I can be sure I’m being smart, and can make sure she doesn’t feel pressured. Especially because I don’t think meeting a bunch of relative strangers to her is something she wants to do. If I need to catch a cab instead of the El, I need to know that so I can budget for it.
I guess I do usually take a cab if it’s late. However, the platforms for the El are elevated - not underground - and outside, so it’s never occured to me that they might be dangerous. The only reason I take cabs at night is that walking from the El to my apartment would make me a bit nervous (plus I’m just usually too drunk to bother 
). The surrounding neighborhood can be iffy at times, but the El station should be fine.
If worst comes to worst, you can always crash on my couch. I think a cab ride from here to the South Loop would be maybe between $20-30, for what it’s worth.
I’ll send out instructions to everyone tomorrow.
That’s a pretty penny, for me, thanks. I’m still 100% planning to be there, but it does mean I have to figure things out. I don’t mind some couch crashing, but I don’t like to impose, and we’ve only met the once.
It’s really not bad around here at night. And there will probably be a few other Dopers heading your way–maybe they’ll wait for the train with you. If no one will wait with you/drive you home, maybe I can drive you back. This is my hood so my car will be here already, and for a few bucks in gas money (only 'cause I’m a poor student), I wouldn’t mind. And I’m trustworthy…in fact, I’m about the least sketchy person you could ever meet. 
Looks around with crazy eyes But that’s what a sketchy person would say!
Seriously, though, thanks, Millit the Frail. Sounds like my original plan of “playing it by ear” is not as insane as it sounds. It was just the look that crossed my roommate’s face made me backtrack a bit. It wasn’t fear, but it was a distinct grimace.
I would be more than happy to help out with gas money. I completely understand “poor student”. I fall in the category of “student who hasn’t even been admitted yet, but already has homework”, so I know the feeling.
Waitaminute! Did I accidentally wander into a Mafia thread?!
No, but if you hum a few bars, I’ll fake it!
I just want to add that people who don’t live in these so-called sketchy neighborhoods always assume the worst. When I lived in Hyde Park my friends living on the North side were constantly harping on me on how dangerous a neighborhood it was. It IS more dangerous than say, Lakeview or Lincoln Park, but people still wander around at night and manage not to get killed. The same is true for Uptown, I’d say - a lot people assume it’s a lot worse than it really is. Both the El stops (Wilson and Lawrence) are on main streets and out in the open - I’ve never considered it a problem to be taking them late at night. There are certain parts of Uptown that definitely should be avoided after dark, but we aren’t going near any of 'em … unless you’re jonesing for a joint or something .
The Wife grew up on the SW side, we lived there together for about 7 years, and I spent several years working in the city, dropping into schools at what a lot of people consider bad neighborhoods. Uptown, even Hyde park are fine 99% of the time for 99% of people.
That said, anyone in the city that might need a ride one way or both, I can stop and pick up a passenger. We’ll probably be running after dinner, but we plan to be there for cookies. PM if you need a lift or e-mail me from my profile.
Where is Uptown, anyway? I know where Streeterville is, Newtown, Oldtown and Lincoln Park (never mind Hyde Park and other places south of the Loop). I have no idea where I’m going. I need to know if there is a place to park within reasonable distance to Haze’s place and the restaurant or just the restaurant and I’ll meet everyone there.
My knowledge of Chicago is distressingly scarce (why, yes; I have lived here for 41 years. Why do you ask?). Going downtown for me means theater, State St /Michigan Ave or museums, so take that into consideration.
HazelNutCoffee, I know that’s true from when I lived in the DC area. It’s just that my roommate did live in Uptown until fairly recently. We actually passed the El stop there and from a visit up their recently. It looked a little run down, but I didn’t blink at it until her grimace, since I know she knows that area from having lived there.
No matter what, I’m not too worried about it at this point. Mr. Bus Guy, I appreciate and will consider your offer, but if the El’s going to be okay, then I can probably do that. I guess it’ll depend on what’s going on that day.
Thanks, everyone! I’m really excited.
Uptown is Irving Park to Foster and the lake to Clark/Ravenswood. Back in the Olde Days, it was the ritzy part of town. Then it became the stomping grounds of Al Capone and his buddies. Ya know the seedy jazz clubs, flappers, wet blacktop and steamy sewers of “Chicago” in myth and legend? That’s Uptown, baby. All that was worth writing about, playing about or living for was in that little neighborhood. Uptown *was *Chicago as it exists in most people’s minds. As the business moved to the Loop and the money moved further north and out to the suburbs, Uptown struggled. There are hundreds of these fantastic old architectural wet dreams of buildings everywhere that began literally crumbling because there was no money for upkeep and no one who cared to raise it.
As little as 9 years ago, it was a shithole of homeless and low income, and I would not, then, have walked the streets alone after dark- my husband lived there when we were dating, and I bought my first cell phone just so he could come park my car with me and walk me to his building. BUT, there has been a recent influx of both money and police presence in the area, and it’s slowly climbing its way back up.
Now, I wouldn’t worry about the El before midnight, but if it’s like 2 or 3, I’d call a cab (but I don’t think it would be $30 to Greektown - $30 gets you from the north side to O’Hare!)
There’s lots of meter parking around Green Mill, and I think (but am not certain) that they offer valet service as well. The Red Line El stop is literally out the front door.
I was just remembering - I took a cab from Wicker Park back to my place last week, and it was a little over $20 … but then again it was snowing and just at the start of rush hour, so you’re right, it wouldn’t be as expensive as that.
I’ve sent out PMs. If you haven’t received one, please let me know.
Hazel, I will definitely be there. I plan to leave my house around 5:00, so will be there around 5:30-5:45. Looking forward to seeing you again, along with some of the other Chicago crew, plus meeting a few more!
Another word of reassurance from me about the neighborhood…some of Uptown is still sketchy, but where we are going to be is not bad…I’ve spent many a late evening there, even in the bad ol’ days WhyNot was talking about, (at the Green Mill, the Aragon Ballroom, Uptown theater and such), and it’s really not bad. I maybe wouldn’t venture into dark alleys, but near the restaurants and el stop it will be fine.
Interestingly, this get-together is taking place on the 35th anniversary of the first Straight Dope column. An even back then one of the topics of discussion was the relative safety of Uptown Chicago.
From the February 2, 1973 column:
Do I really live in the city’s highest crime neighborhood? – L. Becker, Uptown
Not exactly, but you’re close. The 20th police district, which corresponds roughly to Uptown and Rogers Park, was tied for sixth place (out of 21 districts) in total crimes for 1972. Assuming that there is lots more crime in Uptown than there is in Rogers Park (a safe assumption, I think), you’re right up there with the best.
The city’s highest crime district is the 2nd, which runs from the Ryan east to 800 E. between 35th and 55th Streets. Second prize goes to the 7th District, stretching from the Ryan west to Western between 55th and 75th Streets.
Cool coincidence. I will definitely be there.
Fascinating! I’m looking forward to going and meeting everyone.